The Dental Sleep Apnea Center of New Jersey is an office dedicated to the screening, education, and treatment of sleep breathing disorders such as snoring and sleep apnea. Many patients fail to recognize the serious risks associated with untreated sleep apnea. Our mission is to help these patients find a solution that not only treats the problem but is also comfortable to use. Typically, when a patient comes to us they are looking for an alternative to their uncomfortable CPAP machines or their spouse has sent them to us complaining of loud snoring. They are happy to learn of the approved alternative option for treatment, in the form of an oral appliance. It’s comfortable, easy to wear, convenient for travel and affordable. Oral appliances are covered by most major medical carriers, including Medicare. Sleep became my passion when I was diagnosed as a sleep apnea sufferer with daytime fatigue. After I wore my custom-made oral appliance for only one night, I finally woke up feeling rested. Today, I am no longer a sleep apnea sufferer! We love working with sleep apnea patients because after we treat them, they say that they sleep with their spouse again, have all kinds of energy, can exercise and they don't fall asleep at work. Not only do the patients thank us, but so do their family members and spouses. If you are a loud snorer or sleep apnea sufferer, then we can help! Please contact our office for a free sleep consultation at 732-785-0002.

A growing number of Americans are being diagnosed with sleep apnea, a chronic condition that causes sufferers to experience pauses in their breathing while they sleep. Depending on the severity of the condition, these pauses vary in duration from a few seconds to several minutes. These disruptions in regular breathing patterns can occur many times per hour. One of the biggest problems sleep apnea causes is a health-destroying lack of truly restful sleep. And left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to much more serious health problems, including an increased risk of heart attacks and heart failure. If you suspect that sleep apnea may affect you or one of your loved ones, here are some steps that can provide relief and some much needed rest.

Get a diagnosis

If you’re suffering from disrupted sleep and you suspect a disorder like sleep apnea, the first thing to do is get a professional diagnosis from a properly licensed doctor. While your family doctor may be able to recommend a course of action or refer you to a specialist, sleep disorders usually can’t be detected in an ordinary office visit. It’s a good idea to look for a medical professional who specializes in sleep disorders as soon as you suspect it’s a problem. Usually this will involve an overnight stay — and perhaps several nights — in a sleep center where your body can be carefully monitored to pinpoint the cause of your sleep disorder. While sleep apnea is quite common, your restless sleep could be due to many other factors, including insomnia, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome or various behavioral and mental causes, such as sleepwalking or depression.

Choosing a sleep center

If you suspect you might have sleep apnea, you should look for a sleep center that combines two seemingly opposite attributes: an advanced, state-of-the-art medical facility and a comfortable, home-like atmosphere. Ask about the people and technology that will be monitoring your body during your stay at the sleep center. You should know exactly what to expect and what the process will be like — a completely painless experience in most cases. Just as important, though, you should look for a sleep center that can make you feel as comfortable as possible. To discover the root causes of the sleep problems you’re experiencing at home, it can be a good idea to mimic the routines and comfort you experience in your own bedroom. The best sleep centers will have advanced medical technology carefully hidden in a comfortable, home-like setting.

Obstructive or central

There are two main categories of sleep apnea — obstructive and central — that have quite different causes. A professional sleep center will be able to give you the right diagnosis. Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type, involves the airway becoming blocked or collapsing while you sleep, causing you to take very shallow breaths or even completely stop breathing for a period of time. It can also involve loud snoring in some patients. While the obstructive form of sleep apnea is more common in people who are overweight, other people can suffer from it, too. Central sleep apnea, in comparison, doesn’t involve any kind of blockage in the airway. It happens because of a problem in your central nervous system where the brain’s signals don’t reach your breathing muscles correctly, causing you to stop breathing at times in your sleep. Central sleep apnea can occur alone or in conjunction with obstructive sleep apnea, and it’s more common in people who are taking certain medications or who have certain medical conditions already. But it can also occur in anyone, regardless of medications and medical history.

Management

No matter what the cause, it’s important to get a proper, professional diagnosis for any sleeping disorder you think you’re experiencing so that you know what steps to take to manage it. Depending on your diagnosis and situation, there are a wide range of treatments available. From simple lifestyle changes to breathing devices like CPAP machines, mouthpieces and surgery, the exact treatment will need to be tailored for your own medical needs as determined by your doctor. Since the risks of untreated sleep apnea can be serious — including high blood pressure, heart attacks, stroke, heart failure or heart arrhythmias and a higher risk of accidents at work or behind the wheel of a vehicle — it’s important to treat your sleep problems at an early stage.

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